Blog

Millennials and Plastic Surgery

Society today is centralized around social media and the celebrities whose influence transcends through the images they share on a daily basis. For many Americans, specifically millennials under the age of 30, the pursuit of a greater social media presence and following has influenced an increasing number of cosmetic surgery patients. The Association of Facial Plastic Surgeons (AAFPRS) recently conducted a survey in which it was found that 64 percent of members reported an increase of patients under 30 seeking cosmetic surgery or injectables. The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports that millennials comprise 20 percent of the cosmetic surgery population.

Influence of Social Media

opera mini appMillennials, more than any other age group in society today, are engrossed in the various forms of social media available. The drive for the perfect “selfie” or the most “likes” pushes many to change or enhance their appearance. Young men and women see the countless images of perceived flawless celebrities with an overwhelming following and popularity and pursue changes in themselves in the attempt to meet those standards.

Society has evolved to a point where presence on social media outlets such as Instagram, Facebook, or Snapchat is becoming “almost as, if not more important, than personal interactions for many teens and young adults” (according to AAFPRS President Dr. Edwin Williams, III.). Celebrities with millions of followers on these same outlets are becoming an increasing influence on a patient deciding on plastic surgery. Many young adults are driven by the desire to have features that resemble their favorite celebrity. There are some who are even driven by the desire to transform their appearance in order to look like their celebrity idols. And there are patients who openly seek after plastic surgery or minimally invasive cosmetic procedures simply to take a better selfie. According to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 82 percent of responding surgeons stated that celebrities were a major influence in the decision for plastic surgery. This same survey revealed that two out of five surgeons reported patients eager to look better in selfies.

Increase of Cosmetic Surgery and Procedures

The rise in plastic surgery has been seen in a number of procedures. Among the most common procedures performed on millennials are breast augmentations and reductions, nose jobs, liposuction and injectable treatments. A growing number of Americans under 30 begin with Botox or fillers and later move on to more extensive surgeries or procedures.

For many the decision for plastic surgery comes from a desire to slow or remove signs of aging. The AAFPRS found an increase in the number of procedures such as lasers, peels and injections on those of which aging has not even become a concern. Botox injections for fines lines and wrinkles along with lip augmentation are among the most highly sought cosmetic procedures.

Procedures such as breast augmentation and liposuction still rank among the top cosmetic surgical procedures, while buttock augmentation has been growing in popularity. Procedures such as the Brazilian butt lift in which fat is taken from one part of the body and then injected into the buttocks is quickly becoming a trend in the plastic surgery industry. Treatments for the removal of stretch marks are also on the rise.

Millennials, more than any other generation are influenced by what they see on social media on a daily basis. They are exposed to seemingly flawless celebrities with ideal bodies and faces pushing them to seek out cosmetic procedures to enhance their own beauty. Through social media these procedures have also become more socially acceptable and with the information available on the Internet it is becoming a more openly discussed and researched topic.